''Corunastylis'' is a historically recognized genus of about 50 species of

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...

s, native to Australia and New Zealand, now included in the genera ''

Genoplesium ''Genoplesium'' commonly known as midge orchids, is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is found in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Midge orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single le ...

'' and ''

Prasophyllum ''Prasophyllum'', commonly known as leek orchids, is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is found in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian species are found in all states but have not been re ...

''. In 1888,

Robert Fitzgerald Robert Stuart Fitzgerald (12 October 1910 – 16 January 1985) was an American poet, literary critic and translator whose renderings of the Greek classics "became standard works for a generation of scholars and students".Mitgang, Herbert (Januar ...

formally described ''Corunastylis apostasioides'' and published the description in ''Australian Orchids'', the first time the name ''Corunastylis'' had been used. In 1889,

Ferdinand von Mueller Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Victoria, Australia ...

changed the name to ''Prasophyllum apostasioides'' and in 1989, David Jones and Mark Clements placed it and most other species of ''Prasophyllum'' into ''

''. In 2002 Jones and Clements moved all the species of ''Genoplesium'' back into ''Corunastylis'' except for the

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

species '' Genoplesium baueri''. A recent

phylogenetic In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical dat ...

analysis of

Prasophyllinae Prasophyllinae is an orchid subtribe in the tribe Diurideae. See also * Taxonomy of the Orchidaceae The taxonomy of the Orchidaceae ( orchid family) has evolved slowly during the last 250 years, starting with Carl Linnaeus who in 1753 reco ...

suggests that ''Corunastylis'' is

paraphyletic Paraphyly is a taxonomic term describing a grouping that consists of the grouping's last common ancestor and some but not all of its descendant lineages. The grouping is said to be paraphyletic ''with respect to'' the excluded subgroups. In co ...

, and funding from The Australian Orchid Foundation is supporting field work and molecular studies to improve understanding of the phylogeny of the subtribe.

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

considers ''Corunastylis'' to be a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

of ''

''. All the species in the list below are now considered to be included in ''Genoplesium'', except for ''Corunastylis obovata'' and ''Corunastylis unica'', now included in the genus ''Prasophyllum'' as '' P. obovatum'' and '' P. unicum'' respectively. The genus name ''Corunastylis'' is derived from Greek words meaning "a thick stick" and "a style". The following is a list of species formerly included in ''Corunastylis'': *''

Corunastylis acuminata ''Genoplesium acuminatum'', commonly known as the pointed midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to sixteen small, hairy, greenish purple to brownish ...

'' ( R.S.Rogers) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – pointed midge orchid *''

Corunastylis alticola ''Genoplesium alticola'', commonly known as the tableland midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid Endemism, endemic to Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five small, hairy, dark purplish-red an ...

'' (D.L.Jones & B.Gray) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – tableland midge orchid *''

Corunastylis anthracina ''Genoplesium anthracinum'', commonly known as the black midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid Endemism, endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty small, coal black flowers ...

'' D.L.Jones – black midge orchid *'' Corunastylis apostasioides''

Fitzg. Robert David FitzGerald (or possibly Robert Desmond FitzGerald) (30 November 1830 – 12 August 1892) was an Irish-Australian surveying, surveyor, Ornithology, ornithologist, botanist and poet. Whilst working as a public servant FitzGerald's pr ...

– freak midge orchid *''

Corunastylis archeri ''Genoplesium archeri'', commonly known as the elfin midge orchid and as ''Corunastylis archeri'' in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to fift ...

'' (

Hook.f. Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (30 June 1817 – 10 December 1911) was a British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin's closest friend. For 20 years he served as director of the Ro ...

) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – elfin midge orchid *'' Corunastylis arrecta'' D.L.Jones – erect midge orchid *'' Corunastylis bishopii'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Gibraltar Range midge orchid *''

Corunastylis brachystachya ''Genoplesium brachystachyum'', commonly known as the Rocky Cape midge orchid or short-spike midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid Endemism, endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to tw ...

'' ( Lindl.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – short spike midge orchid, Rocky Cape midge orchid *''

Corunastylis capparina ''Genoplesium capparinum'', (known as ''Corunastylis capparina'' in Victoria) is a small terrestrial orchid Endemism, endemic to Victoria (Australia), Victoria. It is one of the midge orchids and has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem ...

'' D.L.Jones *'' Corunastylis carecta'' D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. *''

Corunastylis ciliata ''Genoplesium archeri'', commonly known as the elfin midge orchid and as ''Corunastylis archeri'' in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to fift ...

'' (

Ewart Ewart is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Ewart Adamson (1882–1945), Scottish screenwriter * Ewart Astill (1888–1948), English Test cricketer * Ewart Brown (born 1946), Premier of Bermuda * Ew ...

& B.Rees) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – fringed midge orchid *'' Corunastylis citriodora'' (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - lemon scented midge orchid *'' Corunastylis clivicola'' D.L.Jones (NSW, ACT) *''

Corunastylis conferta ''Genoplesium confertum'', commonly known as the crowded midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to the south-east of Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to sixty small, densely crowded, reddish an ...

'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – crowded midge orchid *''

Corunastylis cornuta ''Genoplesium cornutum'', commonly known as horned midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single leaf fused to the flowering stem and between two and ten crowded, green and reddish-pu ...

'' D.L.Jones *'' Corunastylis cranei'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Blackall Ridge midge orchid *'' Corunastylis cuspidata'' D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. *'' Corunastylis densa'' (

) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – dense midge orchid *''

Corunastylis despectans ''Genoplesium despectans'', commonly known as the sharp midge orchid and known as ''Corunastylis despectans'' in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem a ...

'' (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - sharp midge orchid *''

Corunastylis ectopa ''Genoplesium ectopum'', commonly known as the Brindabella spider orchid or ectopic midge orchid and as ''Corunastylis ectopa'' in Australia, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to the Australian Capital Territory. It has a single thin leaf fu ...

'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Brindabella midge orchid *'' Corunastylis eriochila'' (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Mount Wilson midge orchid *'' Corunastylis filiformis'' (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – glandular midge orchid *'' Corunastylis fimbriata'' ( R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - fringed midge orchid *'' Corunastylis firthii'' ( L.Cady) D.L.Jones – Firth's midge orchid *'' Corunastylis formosa'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Cathcart midge orchid *''

Corunastylis insignis ''Genoplesium insigne'', commonly known as the dark midge orchid or Wyong midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to twelve dark purple to dark reddish purple fl ...

'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – dark midge orchid *'' Corunastylis laminata'' (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – red midge orchid *'' Corunastylis leptochila'' D.L.Jones *'' Corunastylis littoralis'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Tuncurry midge orchid *''

Corunastylis morina ''Genoplesium morinum'', commonly known as the mulberry midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty crowded, dark reddish purpl ...

'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – mulberry midge orchid *'' Corunastylis morrisii'' (Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - bearded midge orchid *'' Corunastylis mucronata'' ( Rupp) D.L.Jones *''

Corunastylis nigricans ''Genoplesium nigricans'', commonly known as mallee midge orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single leaf mostly surrounding the stem, and up to 50 tiny, greenish flowers with a deep maroon-colou ...

'' (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - Kangaroo Island midge orchid *'' Corunastylis nuda'' (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - tiny midge orchid *'' Corunastylis nudiscapa'' (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - brownish midge orchid *'' Corunastylis obovata'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones *'' Corunastylis oligantha'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Mongarlowe midge orchid *'' Corunastylis ostrina'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – purple midge orchid *'' Corunastylis parvicalla'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – mountain-top midge orchid *'' Corunastylis pedersonii'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Pederson's midge orchid *'' Corunastylis plumosa'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - Tallong midge orchid *'' Corunastylis psammophila'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – coastal midge orchid *'' Corunastylis pumila'' (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - green midge orchid *''

Corunastylis rhyolitica ''Genoplesium rhyoliticum'', commonly known as the Pambula midge-orchid or rhyolite midge orchid and as ''Corunastylis rhyolitica'' in Australia, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It is a small orchid with up to eighteen dark, pu ...

'' (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Pambula midge orchid *''

Corunastylis rufa ''Genoplesium rufum'', commonly known as the rufous midge-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, wiry leaf and up to twenty five drooping, pinkish or reddish flowers on a flowering stem which is fused to ...

'' (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - rufous midge orchid *'' Corunastylis ruppii'' ( R.S.Rogers) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Rupp's midge orchid *'' Corunastylis sagittifera'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – horned midge orchid *''

Corunastylis sigmoidea ''Genoplesium sigmoideum'', commonly known as the Dave's Creek midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to a small area in the Lamington National Park in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering ...

'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Dave's Creek midge orchid *'' Corunastylis simulans'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Blue Mountains midge orchid *'' Corunastylis stephensonii'' D.L.Jones *'' Corunastylis superba'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – pink midge orchid *'' Corunastylis systena'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Kangarooby midge orchid *'' Corunastylis tasmanica'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Tasmanian midge orchid *'' Corunastylis tecta'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Cardwell midge orchid *'' Corunastylis tenella'' D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. *''

Corunastylis tepperi ''Genoplesium nigricans'', commonly known as mallee midge orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single leaf mostly surrounding the stem, and up to 50 tiny, greenish flowers with a deep maroon-colou ...

'' (

F.Muell. Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Victoria (state), Vic ...

ex Tepper) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – mallee midge orchid *'' Corunastylis trifida'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. – blackish midge orchid *'' Corunastylis turfosa'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – alpine midge orchid *'' Corunastylis unica'' (Rupp) D.L.Jones *'' Corunastylis valida'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – Blackdown midge orchid *'' Corunastylis vernalis'' (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – spring midge orchid *'' Corunastylis woollsii'' (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – dark midge orchid

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3906506 Diurideae genera Orchids of Australia Historically recognized angiosperm genera